Due to virus pandemic, unemployment rates in the US highest since Great Depression

New York: Unemployment in the US is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus, according to new data released Thursday.

In response to the deepening economic crisis, the House passed a nearly USD 500 billion spending package to help buckled businesses and hospitals.

More than 4.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government reported. In all, roughly 26 million people Â- the population of the 10 biggest US cities combined Â- have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to ease the shutdowns of factories and other businesses.

In the hardest-hit corner of the US, evidence emerged that perhaps 2.7 million New York state residents have been infected by the virus Â- 10 times the number confirmed by lab tests.

A small, preliminary statewide survey of around 3,000 people found that nearly 14 per cen had antibodies showing they had been infected, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Just in New York City, with a population of 8.6 million, Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said as many as 1 million may have been infected.

In Washington, many House lawmakers wore face masks and bandannas Â- and some sat in the otherwise vacant visitors gallery to stay away from others Â- as they debated the latest spending package.

A near-unanimous vote sent it to President Donald Trump in the evening.

Anchoring the bill is the administration's USD 250 billion request to replenish a fund to help small- and medium-size businesses with payroll, rent and other expenses.

Trump said the bill will help small businesses to keep millions of workers on the payroll.

Abroad, there was mixed news about the epidemic.

Some countries, including Greece, Bangladesh and Malaysia, announced extensions of their lockdowns.

Vietnam, New Zealand and Croatia were among those moving to end or ease such measures.